Blog originally posted November 20, 2020
The Simcoe County Archives officially opened November 22, 1966. While the building is closed to the public because of the COVID-19 Pandemic staff members are working remotely to uphold the Archives’ mission:
To collect, preserve, and make available the public and private documentary heritage of Simcoe County.
What Does the Archives Collect?
We hold transfers of public archival records from:
The County of Simcoe
All 16 current lower-tier municipalities
The City of Barrie
More than 30 former lower-tier municipalities
We collect private materials that document Simcoe County’s:
Individuals & Families
Groups & Organizations
Businesses & Industries
Hamlets & Villages
Towns, Townships, & Cities
We accept records and information found on, and in, a variety of formats:
Architectural drawings
Audio tapes
Film & video tapes
Local & family histories
Maps & plans
Photographs, slides, & negatives
Textual records
How Does the Archives Preserve Records?
We have buildng systems in place to maintain industry standards for:
Relative Humidity
Air Quality
We microfilm some records to better preserve the information they contain:
Local newspapers (1847-present)
Municipal By-Laws
Municipal Tax Rolls
Tweedsmuir Histories created by local branches of the Women’s Institute
We re-format records which are stored on a medium that may become obsolete, or to make them easier to access:
Audiocassette tapes
Microfilm
Videocassette tapes
Electronic storage devices
HOW DO YOU MAKE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO USERS?
We look forward to the day when the Archives re-opens to the public and you can once again access records in our Reading Room. In the meantime:
Search the Archives’ Collections
Search Simcoe County Remembers
Check out the Archives’ Blog
Visit the Archives’ On-line exhibits
Send an e-mail: archives@simcoe.ca